Introduction to Computers

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What Is A Computer?
A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its own memory unit,
that can accept data (input), manipulate
data (process), and produce information
(output) from the processing. Generally, the
term is used to describe a collection of
devices that function together as a system.

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History of Computers

Can be divided into generations.

 First Generation (1945 – 1954)
 Second Generation (1955 – 1964)
 Third Generation (1965 – 1974)
 Fourth Generation (1975 - )
 Fifth Generation

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Devices that comprise a computer system

Monitor Speaker
(output) (output) System unit
(processor, memory…)

Printer
(output)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanner Keyboard
(input)
(input)

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What Does A Computer Do?
Computers can perform four general operations,
which comprise the information processing cycle.

 Input
 Process
 Output

 Storage

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Data and Information

• All computer processing requires data, which is a collection of

raw facts, figures and symbols, such as numbers, words,
images, video and sound, given to the computer during the input
phase.
• Computers manipulate data to create information. Information
is data that is organized, meaningful, and useful.
• During the output Phase, the information that has been created
is put into some form, such as a printed report.
• The information can also be put in computer storage for future
use.

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Why Is A Computer So Powerful?

• The ability to perform the information

processing cycle with amazing speed.
• Reliability (low failure rate).
• Accuracy.
• Ability to store huge amounts of data and
information.
• Ability to communicate with other computers.

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How Does a Computer Know what to do?

• It must be given a detailed list of instructions,

called a compute program or software, that
tells it exactly what to do.
• Before processing a specific job, the
computer program corresponding to that job
must be stored in memory.
• Once the program is stored in memory the
compute can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other.
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What Are The Primary Components
Of A Computer ?
 Input devices.
 Central Processing Unit
(containing the control
unit and the
arithmetic/logic unit).
 Memory.
 Output devices.
 Storage devices.

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Input Devices

• Keyboard.
• Mouse.

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The Keyboard
The most commonly used input device is the
keyboard on which data is entered by
manually keying in or typing certain keys. A
keyboard typically has 101 or 105 keys.

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The Mouse
Is a pointing device which is used to control
the movement of a mouse pointer on the
screen to make selections from the screen. A
mouse has one to five buttons. The bottom of
the mouse is flat and contains a mechanism
that detects movement of the mouse.

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The Central processing Unit
The central processing unit (CPU) contains
electronic circuits that cause processing to
occur. The CPU interprets instructions to the
computer, performs the logical and arithmetic
processing operations, and causes the input
and output operations to occur. It is
considered the “brain” of the computer.

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Memory
Memory also called Random Access Memory
or RAM (temporary memory) is the main
memory of the computer. It consists of
electronic components that store data
including numbers, letters of the alphabet,
graphics and sound. Any information stored in
RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.

Read Only Memory or ROM is memory that is

etched on a chip that has start-up directions
for your computer. It is permanent memory.

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Hard Disks

• Another form of auxiliary storage is a hard disk. A

hard disk consists of one or more rigid metal plates
coated with a metal oxide material that allows data to
be magnetically recorded on the surface of the
platters.
• The hard disk platters spin at a high rate of speed,
typically 5400 to 7200 revolutions per minute (RPM).
• Storage capacites of hard disks for personal
computers range from 10 GB to 120 GB (one billion
bytes are called a gigabyte).

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 Advantages of Using Computers
• Speed: Computers can carry out instructions in less than
a millionth of a second.

• Accuracy : Computers can do the calculations without

errors and very accurately.

• Diligence : Computers are capable of performing any

task given to them repetitively.

• Storage Capacity : Computers can store large volume

of data and information on magnetic media.

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Computer software is the key to
productive use Computer Software
of computers.
Software can be categorized into
two types:

 Operating system software

 Application software.

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Operating system software tells the computer
Operating
how to perform System
the functions Software
of loading,
storing and executing an application and how
to transfer data.
Today, many computers use an operating
system that has a graphical user interface
(GUI) that provides visual clues such as icon
symbols to help the user. Microsoft Windows
98 is a widely used graphical operating
system. DOS (Disk Operating System) is an
older but still widely used operating system
that is text-based. 20
Operating System Function

 File Management

 Memory Management

 Process Management

 Device Management

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Application Software consists of programs
Application
that tell a computer how to Software
produce
information. Some of the more commonly
used packages are:

 Word processing
 Electronic spreadsheet

 Database

 Presentation graphics

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Word Processing

 Word Processing software is used to create and print

documents. A key advantage of word processing
software is that users easily can make changes in
documents.

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Electronic Spreadsheets

 Electronic spreadsheet software allows the user to

add, subtract, and perform user-defined calculations
on rows and columns of numbers. These numbers
can be changed and the spreadsheet quickly
recalculates the new results.

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Database Software

 Allows the user to enter, retrieve, and update data in

an organized and efficient manner, with flexible
inquiry and reporting capabilities.

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Presentation Graphics

 Presentation graphic software allows the user to

create documents called slides to be used in making
the presentations. Using special projection devices,
the slides display as they appear on the computer
screen.

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Networking
 A Computer Network is interconnection of Computers to
share resources.

 Resources can be : Information, Load, Devices etc.

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Types of Networks

On the basis of Size:

 Local Area Network (LAN)
Its a network of the computers locally i.e. in
one room, one building.
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
Its a network of the computers spread widely
geographically.

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Benefits of Computer Networks

 Information Sharing
 Device Sharing

 Load Sharing

 Mobility

 Fast Communication

 Anywhere Anytime Banking

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A Look Inside…

 Identify all the major components:

 Power Supply
 Motherboard
 Memory
 Card Slots
 Cards (sound, video, network)
 CPU, heatsink and fan
 Drives (floppy, hard and CD-ROM)
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Thankyou